8th Annual St. Lucie Mud Jam

The first St. Lucie Mud Jam, September 2011, was met with much adversity. I read many comments online concerned with how good the mud at this new venue would be. “This place looks like a dump” was one of the comments I read on a popular forum. They couldn’t be more wrong. Not many people believed that natural mud would really be there since no photos could be found and the only video was subsequently taken down. “I think I was more excited about the place BEFORE I saw the video,” someone else posted. Mud Jam took its share of abuse in the beginning, but everything great has to start somewhere. Now we are marking the eighth straight event at the same location, and they have even had a few visits from the ever popular Trucks Gone Wild crew.

Larry and Colleen Thomas have proved that the St. Lucie Mud Jam is a force to be reckoned with in the mudding community, and they listen to what the people say and suggest. Sure, they had a few unexpected problems during startup, but those were minor glitches that in my opinion are unavoidable. Mud Jam in known for having a few different areas of mud to accommodate all types of enthusiasts, from the little guys to the giants. Nice camping areas and plenty of quality vendors add to a unique setting on 500 acres. This event is a must-go in my book.

With the turnout at this past February’s event, the St. Lucie Mud Jam has escalated to all-new heights. It was off the chain! Friday started out as expected with mudders filing in at a steady pace to pick their campsites and unload their toys. Nighttime got wild, as it should when the massive buggies and trucks gathered around the DJ and flatbed stage. The party had started, and at this point it’s best to leave the children at the campsite. I’m not sure when it ended or if it just blended into Saturday morning, but I cashed out around 1 a.m.

Matt Steele with Trucks Gone Wild was there to host the free races on Saturday. Top competitors from all over showed up to give it their all. The spectators packed around to watch for a few hours, and then it was back out to the mud holes. As Saturday evening approached, live music filled the air and the Mud Jam’s infamous Fire Pit Buggy Party got under way. Night riding is allowed here as long as you have lights on your vehicle, and the fun never seems to end. By Sunday morning I was getting a bit worn out but I threw back another 5-Hour Energy drink and grabbed the camera. As Sunday wound down, many packed up and left throughout the day. Times like this are a great time to cut loose and go fast because the crowd is basically gone. It almost feels like the park is all yours.

I’ve been to each and every St. Lucie Mud Jam event and have no plans of skipping one in the future. February’s event was the wildest I’ve ever seen, with wall-to-wall trucks, ATVs, side-by-sides, and buggies, which made it spectacular. It’s the best party around, no question.